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JUNIOR LETTER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 44

Because of the fluid nature of the cattle market, Wunderlich emphasizes that the board has to keep looking toward the future or the breed will get passed over by new innovations. “You always have to be at least right in line or stepping with the leaders to see what is coming in the future,” she says. “And that is where our young members come into play.” Members are vital for the association to function, and anyone who wants to have a voice in the breed can run for a position on the board. That’s why Erik Wiley, a board member from Louisiana, decided to join the board, adding that he felt he could bring something to the table and represent his area well. For Nolan Taylor, a board member from Kentucky and the board’s secre- tary/treasurer, serving on the board was a way to try to make a difference on the national scale and try to give back to the breed that’s given so much to him. “We’re having a lot of really positive discussions,” Fields says. “It feels like Santa Gertrudis is at a really pivotal point where the breed has had a lot of success over the last years; but it feels like we have a bigger road to go down, so I think there are some pretty large decisions this board will make that will certainly project the entire trajectory of the breed for years to come.” Without the members though, there would be no Santa Gertrudis Breeders International, and without the associa- tion, the breed wouldn’t be nearly as successful as it has been. “The value that the members provide us is really directional,” Fields says. “We need to know what is important to the members, how they see Santa Ger- trudis cattle fitting in where they’re from in their region, their state, and how the association can serve them in growing that mission, whatever it is.” Because the association belongs to the membership, Kathryn Hefte, SGBI vice president of Breed Improvement, says it is important for members to step up and let their goals and wishes be known so, in return, the association can find a way to push those goals forward and be there to provide value to the members in promotional aspects, direc- tional aspects, marketing on behalf of the breed and membership education. “We try to stay in the forefront as a breed that’s very progressive in terms of new technology and science to make sure that the breed is as progressive as possible, and we certainly think that provides a lot of value back to the membership,” Fields says.

Within the cattle industry, there are so many organizations you can become a member of, but I truly believe Santa Gertrudis Breeders International and the National Junior Santa Gertrudis Association are two of the best to get involved with. If you or someone you know is hesitant or has questions about becoming a member and getting your own herd number, contact someone in your area or myself; we would love to help you out. I am forever grateful for all this organization has done for me, and I am so thank- ful I will always have that special number. To learn more about NJSGA, visit: www.santagertrudis.com/sgbi-youth/njsga

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OCTOBER 2021 • WWW.SANTAGERTRUDIS.COM